Microchip for combining gas chromatography or capillary liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry

Anal Chem. 2007 Jul 1;79(13):4994-9. doi: 10.1021/ac070157a. Epub 2007 May 26.

Abstract

We present a microfabricated nebulizer chip for combining atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry (APPI-MS) with gas chromatography (GC) or capillary liquid chromatography (capLC). The chip consists of a silicon plate and a glass plate or two glass plates. The chip includes a sample inlet channel, auxiliary gas and dopant inlet, vaporizer channel, nozzle, and platinum heater. The sample eluted from the capLC or GC is mixed with auxiliary gas and dopant (toluene) in the heated vaporizer. The chip forms a confined jet of the sample vapor, which is photoionized as it exits the chip. The analytical performance of GC- and capLC-microchip APPI-MS was evaluated with some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, amphetamines, and steroids. The GC-muAPPI-MS method provides high sensitivity down to 0.8 fmol, repeatability (RSD = 7.5-14%), and linearity (r = 0.9952-0.9987). The capLC-muAPPI-MS method shows high sensitivity down to 1 fmol, good repeatability (RSD = 3.6-8.1%), and linearity (r = 0.9989-0.9992).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamines / analysis
  • Atmospheric Pressure
  • Chromatography, Gas / instrumentation
  • Chromatography, Gas / methods*
  • Chromatography, Liquid / instrumentation
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Gases
  • Glass / chemistry
  • Hot Temperature
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
  • Mass Spectrometry / instrumentation
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Microchip Analytical Procedures / methods*
  • Photochemistry / instrumentation
  • Photochemistry / methods*
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Silicon / chemistry
  • Steroids / analysis
  • Toluene / chemistry
  • Volatilization

Substances

  • Amphetamines
  • Gases
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Steroids
  • Toluene
  • Silicon